Matt would have picked the South, too

Which is more amazing?

That Matt predicted just one of four round one baseball playoff series correct?

Or, that a .250 prediction average represents Matt a significant improvement in his prognostication abilities from last year, when he missed all seven playoff series?

Yep, the Phillies just finished off the Rockies making Matt 1-for-4 in the first round of the playoffs. None of the first-round series were very good, but many of the individual games were excellent - particularly the last game of the Angels-Red Sox series. Fascinating baseball.

First, let's look back at Matt's predictions:
Yankees and Twins
Matt's pick: Yankees in three. "The Twins had to play an extra game that went extra innings less than a day before this series starts; the Yankees have C.C. Sabathia..."

Amazingly, the Yankees swept and C.C. Sabathia was a key. Now, before you start thinking Matt knows anything about anything...

Red Sox vs. Angels

Matt's pick: Sox in five. "Just a hunch, but maybe this comes down to the relievers and maybe the Angels regret letting K-Rod get away. No offense to Brian Fuentes, but Papelbon is one of the best out there."

Wow - could not have been more wrong. Fuentes was outstanding and Papelbon got blown up.

Dodgers vs. Cardinals

Matt's pick: Cardinals in three. "The Dodgers don't have enough starting pitching to match up with the Cardinals. And they're slumping down the stretch. Wainwright, Carpenter, Pujols and Holliday are more than enough."
Well, who knew Matt Holliday would try to catch balls with his...cup? This one was the biggest surprise, for Matt.

Phillies vs. Rockies

Matt's pick: Rockies in five. "Ubaldo Jiminez completes his rise to superstar pitcher against the Phils."

Admittedly, Matt was playing a hunch here because the Rockies were rolling. Jiminez was good, not great. Matt's picks were putrid, not bad.

But why should that stop him from Round Two prognosticating?

Yankees vs. Angels

Comment: It's ironic that the Yankees - the most evil force in the world (except Jeter and Rivera) - are playing a team of Angels. Good vs. evil. Who would possibly side with evil? Except the Yankees are an excellent team. But maybe a seven-game series favors the Angels rotation, which is a bit deeper than the Yankees, on paper. What will be most fun to watch is Abreu and Jeter - two of the best and most underrated players - taking their at bats in this series.

Matt's prediction: Oh, like it matters who Matt picks. It's hard to pick against a team with Sabathia, Pettitte and Rivera, but Matt isn't sold on any of the other Yankee pitchers. A-Rod could be the key. If he stays hot, that might be too much for the Angels to overcome. But Matt says the Angels have enough pitching and Torii Hunter to get by. Angels in seven.

Dodgers and Phillies

Comment: If Matt has a theory in the first round and it fails, does that make the theory faulty? Should he see the first round failure as a fluke or a precusor? All that rhetoric is directed at the Dodgers starting pitching. Randy Wolf, Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw? All talented, but none dominant. They can't possibly have enough to get by the defending champs, right?

Matt's prediction: You just want to know, so you can lay odds the other way, right? Even if you ignored Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, the Phillies have way too many bats. Matt has really learned to appreciate how talented Ryan Howard (pictured above, blurry) is, and how much fun it is watching him play. Utley, Werth and Victorino aren't too shabby, either. Phillies in four.

Enjoy the Dodgers-Yankees World Series!